At no time in the history of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and its predecessor, the Philippine Constabulary (PC), has the entire leadership come under fire for alleged misconduct.
It never happened when my father, the late Ramon Sr., was with the PC. Dad retired in 1970.
Director General Jesus Verzosa and his deputies are being criticized by the public for the undeclared 105,000 euros airport authorities seized from a PNP general in Moscow.
Opposition Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. called on Verzosa to go on leave while the case is under investigation by the PNP itself.
Pimentel’s call is mild compared to the gravity of the scandal; Verzosa should be made to resign or retire early.
Verzosa’s boss, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno must also be replaced for defending the “euro generals” in the initial reports about the scandal.
* * *
However, expecting President Gloria, who’s being lavished with treatment fit for a queen in China, to replace Puno is wishful thinking.
Puno is the President’s indispensable adviser on just about anything, from changing the Constitution, giving convicted plunderer President Erap pardon, to giving media people rough treatment during the Peninsula siege.
Puno is the primus inter pares or the first among equals in GMA’s Cabinet.
The President has come to Puno’s defense when her other Cabinet secretaries asked for his head for his various fiascos.
The President, like her immediate predecessors, probably owes Puno a very heavy debt of gratitude.
* * *
Despite being exposed by big business in Cagayan de Oro City for his alleged extortion activities, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Northern Mindanao Director Mustapha Gandarosa refuses to leave his post.
Gandarosa says his efforts to collect more taxes are perceived by businessmen as a “threat to their business operations.”
Mr. Gandarosa, Chinoy businessmen seldom, if ever, complain of harassment by government people, especially those from the BIR. They’re too scared of reprisal.
* * *
Here’s a text message written in Filipino from a BIR collector to a Cavite businessman, Freddie Tan:
“Sir, what’s new? What have you decided for the BIR? You know, even if you use Epi, we’ll still pounce on you because we have a clear case against you. Believe me, BIR will not stop even if you use Epi. By the way, where’s the money so I can bring out my supervisor.”
“Epi” referred to Epimaco Velasco, former director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Cavite governor, from whom businessman Tan sought help.
The suspected extortionists, Michelle Enriquez and Ryan Romen, both BIR examiners, were arrested last week by NBI agents while receiving marked money from their victim. They were allegedly demanding P20 million from Tan.
